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12 May Palmyra, Brigantine 5/11 [Matt Webster ] 11 May Black River WMA & Kay Environmental Center [Kevin Cahill ] 11 May Clinton Road was very birdy today [Beverly Robertson ] 11 May Monmouth County Audubon Meeting May 14th [Stuart and Wendy ] 11 May Gray-cheeked Thrush [Rob Fanning ] 11 May Today's treat [susan richart ] 11 May more on Burlington WSB runs - bird lists [Sandra Keller ] 11 May Eagle n teal [Michael Britt ] 11 May WSB Award winners [Laurie Larson ] 11 May WSoB-Full state [Jeff Vinosky ] 11 May WSB - Burlington County Run - very long [Sandra Keller ] 11 May Re: From Prime Hook to Sandy Hook (long)--Wood Sandpiper, Cape May Warbler etc, PICS [Steve Glynn ] 11 May From Prime Hook to Sandy Hook (long)--Wood Sandpiper, Cape May Warbler etc, PICS [JEFFERY DAVIS ] 11 May Re: Band? [Grant Stevenson ] 10 May WSB report, Mercer County...long [Nigel Bates ] 10 May Garret Mountain [Chris Wyluda ] 11 May Garret Mountain 5/10 [Erica Mueller ] 9 May Re: a quick laugh before the start of the world series... [Christopher Vogel ] 10 May Meadowlands shorebirds [Michael Britt ] 10 May World Series of (yard) birding [Dena Temple ] 10 May A.M. yard birds [susan richart ] 9 May a quick laugh before the start of the world series... [Evan Cutler ] 9 May NAMC: ON THE IMPORTANCEMIGRANT LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE OBSERVATIONS [Grant Stevenson ] 9 May Iceland Gull & E. Collared Dove continue in Cape May, Lots o Lesser Black Backs [Christopher Vogel ] 9 May Re: OT - Possum skulls [Gary&Karen Gentile ] 9 May The Rose-breasted [Gary&Karen Gentile ] 9 May OT - Possum skulls [susan richart ] 9 May Wisconsin Whooping Cranes abandon nests [Peter Burke ] 9 May Eating Crane [Christopher Vogel ] 9 May breeding Yellow Rail in Maine [Tom Bailey ] 9 May Celery Farm (Friday AM) [John Workman ] 9 May DVOC Gloucester County trip clarification [Sandra Keller ] 9 May rain and shorebird fields [Sandra Keller ] 8 May stoneybrook milstone watershed 5/7 [Chris Wyluda ] 9 May Celery Farm today [Erica Mueller ] 8 May Sandy Hook- Swallow tailed & Mississippi Kites, etc [Scott Barnes ] 8 May A few birds and an early Butterfly [Shawn Wainwright ] 8 May second Curlew Sand-tis the season! [Christopher Vogel ] 8 May Re: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher [Joe T ] 8 May DE - Wood Sandpiper - yes [Sandra Keller ] 8 May red knot [barry ] 8 May Sandhill Crane, Eurasian Whimbrel, Iceland Gull, Curlew Sandpiper in S. Jersey [Christopher Vogel ] 8 May Wow, what a yard day [Gary&Karen Gentile ] 8 May Prothonotary Warbler @ the CF [Rob Fanning ] 8 May Returning the Favor: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (NYC) [Robert DeCandido, PhD ] 8 May Re: Sandy Hook May 7th [Theodore Chase ] 7 May Phalarope & Shrike/Sandy Hook [Neil Nappe ] 7 May Ruff at South Cape May [Christopher Vogel ] 8 May Hudson/Passiac/Bergen - Laurel Hill Ravens update, Garret Mt PM, Tenafly [Edna & Ray Duffy ] 7 May Birds and Butterflies at Silver Ridge 5-7 [Shawn Wainwright ] 7 May Chester birds [paul murray ] 7 May Extra-limital - Wood Sandpiper in DE [Dave Magpiong ] Subject: Palmyra, Brigantine 5/11 From: Matt Webster <mattweb100 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 01:58:44 +0000 Palmyra 7:15-9:30am 12 species of warbler (Mag, BTB, BTG, etc) A GRAY CHEEKED THRUSH was a nice sighting, giving us a great long look 2 INDIGO BUNTINGS, 2 N ROUGH WINGED SWALLOWS, 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS A brief stop by Hawkins Road had the usual suspects (Protho, Hooded, Blue Winged, Prairie, B+W) Brigantine 12:30-3:45pm A LOT of shorebirds today (hundreds of Dunlin, Least Sands, Semipalmated Sands, Semipalmated Plovers, BB Plover) 100+ SB Dowitcher, 75 Whimbrel, 6 Oystercatcher, 20+ Spotted Sands, 1 Solitary Sand, 1 Ruddy Turn, 1 Red Knot Hooded, BTG Warblers, Veery 4 Saltmarsh Sharp Tailed, 6 Savannah, 8 Seaside Sparrows 2 Northern Bobwhite by Jen's Trail 2 Red Breasted Mergansers 2 Gull Billed Terns Matt Webster Marlton, NJ mattweb100 AT comcast.netSubject: Black River WMA & Kay Environmental Center From: Kevin Cahill <kcahill2 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 17:38:43 -0700 Birded the easterly section of Black River WMA on Dover-Chester Road. Nothing too exciting but did walk to the power line cut for the Chestnut Sided and Prairie Warblers. Got a good look at a male and female Blue Wing Warbler. Interesting sighting was two pairs of Rose Breasted Grosbeaks - they nest in the area. Indigo Bunting (common in this area of the WMA) were up and singing all along the power line cut. Veery and Wood Thrush were active as well. Got the Lawrence's at Kay Environmental with some nice views of the Hooded and Prairie Warblers right at the parking lot. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJSubject: Clinton Road was very birdy today From: Beverly Robertson <bearfont AT WARWICK.NET> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 20:24:33 -0400 Diane Brown and I birded Clinton Road, Van Orden and Paradise Road powercuts, West Milford Township, today. We got 52 species from 8-12. We heard or saw the following: BT Blue, Prairie Warbler, BT Green, Ovenbird, Wood Thrush, Veery, Yellow Warbler, Blue Wing, Chestnut-sided, Parula, Redstart, Pine, B&W, Hooded, Common Yellowthroat, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, Goldfinch, Scarlet Tanager, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, RB Nuthatch, Turkey, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Broad-winged hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper Hawk, Mourning Dove, Cardinal, Robin, Blue Jay, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Phoebe, Great-crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed vireo, Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Blue- Gray Gnatcatcher, Catbird, Chipping Sparrow, House Sparrow, Cowbird, Beverly Robertson Upper Greenwood Lake http://murmuringtrees.blogspot.com http://behindthebins.wordpress.comSubject: Monmouth County Audubon Meeting May 14th From: Stuart and Wendy <weluvowls AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 19:31:37 -0400 George Nixon, teacher and naturalist will be presenting his program on "Dragonflies and Damselflies" at the Monmouth County Audubon Society meeting on Wednesday, May 14th at 8PM. Meetings take place at the Trinity Episcopal Church on White Street in Red Bank. The public is welcome, admission is free. George Nixon's program will be divided into 2 parts. The first part will review the biology and lifecycle of dragonflies and damselflies and their identification. The second part will be a primer of "odes " that one is likely to encounter in NJ as well as those less likely to be encountered in the field. George Nixon has been an avid birder for more than 20 years.He is a past member of the NJ Birds Records Committee and is a member of the Urner Ornithological Club. He turned his attention to dragonflies and damselflies about 3 years ago. He is founder of NJOdes, a website for New Jersey Dragonfly/Damselfly enthusiasts. For more information about this program go to www.monmouthaudubon.org Wendy Malmid Program Chairperson MCAS P.O.Box 542 Red Bank, NJ 07701Subject: Gray-cheeked Thrush From: Rob Fanning <lapwing4 AT JUNO.COM> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 22:16:01 GMT Just before Noon today I saw a Gray-cheeked Thrush at Garret Mtn. Good Birding, -Rob Fanning -Morristown _____________________________________________________________ Rapid results for many ailments. Click here for hypnosis solutions. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2111/fc/Ioyw6iiemwbtwp9ld5cHKrIWKheQm7zjNTRO9T1ZgfE2BjXlVi96Q0/?count=1234567890Subject: Today's treat From: susan richart <newjerseytea AT PATMEDIA.NET> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 17:05:34 -0400 4 male and 3 female RB Grosbeaks on the feeder or in the bird bath at one time. Also, a Blue-headed Vireo singing. Susie R. Tewksbury/CalifonSubject: more on Burlington WSB runs - bird lists From: Sandra Keller <sandrakeller AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 15:55:32 -0500 Sometimes a bird list is in order - nice comparison that way: 2008 run shorebirds: SEMIPALMATED PLOVER KILLDEER GREATER YELLOWLEGS SOLITARY SANDPIPER WILLET SPOTTED SANDPIPER LEAST SANDPIPER SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER 2004 results: Everything I listed above plus: Lesser Yellowlegs Pectoral Sandpiper Wilson's Snipe American Woodcock That's actually 4 more shorebirds for 2004. I forgot the Woodcock. I was thinking under night birding for that one. My notes say "Chatsworth area" for this species in 2004. I should be more specific as I don't recall at all! Ducks for 2008: WOOD, MALLARD, and BLACK. Throw in Green-winged Teal - Palmyra and Red-breasted Mergs - flying north up the Delaware for 2004. Raptors - missed Red-shouldered in 2004, but had Kestrel. Just switch those two for 2008. I forgot I did so well on raptors in Burlington in 2004. Good raptor county. 10 species each run including vultures. I only had 9 on my Cumberland run in 2007 where I did so well. Everything went right that day. I think Burlington holds my numbers records for raptors. I did a quick check of my runs. Even a Cape May run in 2000 with a friend had only 8 raptors. 159 species we got that day. Etc. I know Burlington County for the raptors and that hasn't changed much. Nice. Gulls - same four for both runs: LAUGHING RING-BILLED HERRING GREAT BLACK-BACKED. The Florence Gulls! I never seem to pick up a white-winged! I thought I had Lesser one big day run, but I could be thinking of the year I did these runs every month and hit here in the winter. Just checked my excel chart for that year and had LBBG in Jan. Feb. and March. Then again in the fall. Thrushes for 2008: WOOD. For 2004 - I must have picked a good migrant weekday: WOOD, VEERY, SWAINSON'S and HERMIT. I have written in my notes for VEERY for 2004 - first at Dot Everit Trail. Light SW winds that day I have written down. Probably the same for the previous night also. Warblers for 2008: BLUE-WINGED PARULA - I had another 3 this morning at work. I don't think I have missed Parula in a week or two! YELLOW CHESTNUT-SIDED - was right where Sarah had it a few days previously. That was interesting. That happened with a few other migrant warblers. They just stayed put with this lousy migrant weather after coming in. At least they stayed put at Palmyra and Hawkin Rd. Why leave a good feeding area? MAGNOLIA BLACK-THROATED BLUE BLACK-THROATED GREEN PINE PRAIRIE BLACKPOLL BLACK and WHITE REDSTART PROTHONOTARY WORM-EATING OVENBIRD LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH COMMON YELLOWTHROAT HOODED For the 2004 run: The same 18 as above plus - Nashville - Palmyra Yellow-rumped - around - that actually ranks as a big miss for 2008 also. They should still be around! Blackburnian - although Sarah did have one. We other two could not get on it. Bay-breasted - Hawkin Rd. Northern Waterthrush - Dot Everit Trail and Palmyra. I love big days! Sandra Keller Barrington, NJ sandrakeller AT verizon.netSubject: Eagle n teal From: Michael Britt <mbritt78 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 15:55:46 -0400 I observed a Bald Eagle (age unknown but not adult) soaring over the DeKorte side of Sawmill Creek along the NJTP this afternoon. On May 5, there were 7 Blue-winge Teal (four males, three females) in the new pond behind the LSP Interpretive Center. Some of the males were territorial... Mike Britt Clifton _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live for mobile, your contacts travel with you. http://www.windowslive.com/mobile/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_mobile_052008Subject: WSB Award winners From: Laurie Larson <llarson2 AT MAC.COM> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 15:12:55 -0400 New Jersey Audubon Society 25th Annual World Series of Birding May 10, 2008 Award Winners URNER STONE CUP (highest number total species) – 229 species Lagerhead Shrikes sponsored by Nikon / DVOC Captain Paul Guris, Bert Filemyr, Mike Fritz, Eric Pilotte STONE AWARD (2nd highest number total species) – 222 species - Tie Raven Luna-Ticks sponsored by Bushnell Outdoor Products / Connecticut Audubon Captain Frank Gallo, Patrick Dugan, Ken Elkins, Jeremiah Trimble, Peter Trimble - and - The Sapsuckers sponsored by Swarovski Optik / Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Captain Ken Rosenberg, Andy Farnsworth, Marshall Iliff, Tim Lenz, Brian Sullivan, Chris Wood STEARNS AWARD (3rd highest number total species) – 219 species Pentax Sports Optics sponsored by Pentax Captain Chris Aquila, Robert Blair, Roger Dreyling, James Hamer CAPE MAY COUNTY AWARD (highest number total species in Cape May County) – 187 species Maryland Yellowthroats Captain Jim Brighton, Zach Baer, Bill Hubick, Mikey Lutmerding LGA AWARD (highest total par; single county) – 162 species (Atlantic County – 81%) Wrending Talons sponsored by Atlantic County Utilities Authority Captain Margaret Atack-Klewin, Joe Delesantro, Matthew Klewin, Buster Raff CAPE ISLAND CUP (highest number total species south of Cape May canal) – 145 species Zen Zugunruhe sponsored by WildBird Captain Dave Hedeen, Glen Davis, Matt Garvey, Tait Johansson BIG STAY AWARD (highest number total species in a single location) – 67 species Lorrimer Lounging Larids sponsored by New Jersey Audubon Society’s Lorrimer Sanctuary Captain Patrick Scheuer, Barbara Blumenthal, Stan Blumenthal SWAROVSKI DIGI DAY AWARD Digi Camera Award (highest number total species digital photography) – 129 species Photo Flickers Captain France Dewage, Gerry Dewage Digi Scope Award (highest number total species digiscope photography) – 113 species Digiscoping Hawks sponsored by Swarovski Optik Captain Clay Taylor, Sharon Stiteler, Bill Yule FLOYD P. WOLFARTH SENIOR AWARD (highest number total species) – 161 species Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge Cedar Run Runners Captain Joe Costanza, Cliff Jones, Susan Setterberg, Karenne Snow ZEISS YOUTH BIRDING AWARD Division A (Grade 1-5 highest number total species) – 121 species Steiner Merlins sponsored by Steiner Binoculars Shannon Pignataro, Chuckie Lansinger, Tabitha Lansinger Division B (Grade 6-8 highest number total species) – 152 species MOS Chuckle-Heads Emily Vooris, Emily Masucci, Madeline Masucci, Emmett Mayberry Division C (Grade 9-12 highest number total species) – 215 Blue Oystercatcher Cult sponsored by Nikon Erik Enbody, Craig Bateman, Phil ChoanSubject: WSoB-Full state From: Jeff Vinosky <Ledzeppelinfan60 AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 12:12:22 EDT With my brother competing, and having helped him with his scouting up north, opted to do a full state run with a couple friends of mine who have just gotten into birding within the past year. Didn't seem as though I was having a very good day as there were some birds that had been seemingly pegged, but did not call or were not located. A fine total of 182 to end the day though, which was extremely good considering I had no time to scout bellow route 80. Ended the day with 25 warblers including Wilson's and Cape May (missed on Prothonotary and BTB) , the three grassland sparrows that were to be expected (no WC Sp), and the lingering ducks (RB Merg, Gadwall, GW Teal, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck and Surf/Black Scoter). The highlight of the day though was a nice 1st summer Iceland gull roosting on Champagne Island around 6:30pm, so all in all, a fine day of birding. Big Misses: Cattle Egret, Little-blue Heron, Peregrine Falcon, Piping Plover, Solitary Sandpiper (kicking my self for), Gull-billed Tern, Nighthawk, Red-Headed Woodpecker, RB Nuthatch, Prothonotary Warbler, WC Sparrow (should have been able to dig one up somewhere), Orchard Oriole (didn't get a chance to look for any land birds in Cape may) and Dark-eyed Junco (apparently we missed the birds by about five minutes, such is the story of World Series Runs). Best story that I have from this day(s), was when driving north to either Great Swamp or Black River (its all one giant blur still), a cop was tailing me (he had it out for me), and eventually pulled me over for staying in the left lane to long (four lane highway) and driving to slow! What do you expect officer, you are riding me for 2-3 miles! Well, hope everyone else had a good time, hopefully this year surpasses the amount of money raised for conservation in previous years, as that is the true goal of all of this. Look forward to next years WSoB and hopefully joining up with a state competing team. Jeff Vinosky **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)Subject: WSB - Burlington County Run - very long From: Sandra Keller <sandrakeller AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 11:24:24 -0500 Sat. May 10. Start time - 2:00AM. End time: 9:15PM or so. Weather actually was nice. No rain. Light N winds most of the day. Sun and clouds. The team - the Rancocas Ravaging Red-tails: Sandra Keller Sarah Tanedo Barbara Wiley Doug Johnson Bird highlights: 1 WILLOW FLYCATCHER - back at Amico Island. I actually usually get on a big day run even though this is early. Had in 2004 also. 6 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS - the flooded horse pasture at Taylor's Refuge. How often do you see 6 in a small location?? We tried turning them into anything else..... Wood Sandpiper had crossed my mind. It is still along Broadkill Beach Rd. btw. A friend went down and saw this morning - Sunday. Had Snipe here in 2004. No Snipe this year. Alas we did not destroy any competitors this day! Maybe next year..... My goal was 130. Realistic I thought given the lack of waterfowl, shorebirds, and the weather forecast. Well, 119 was close. I will write this report based on my last Burlington County big day run which was May 2004 when I was doing a Burlington County big year. I think I ran it during the week then and it was just me. I had 140 then. Always hard to pin down where numbers were lost. 2 more waterfowl species in 2004, 3 more night birds, 5 more warblers. 3 more shorebirds. That's 13! Missed WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH back then. Got it this year. Got SHARP-TAILED SPARROW - saltmarsh then. Missed this year but had two adult WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS - one at Palmyra and the other at Rancocas. 4 THRUSHES back in 2004. Only WOOD THRUSH this year. Missed CEDAR WAXWING in 2004. Had this year. Etc. We each had a couple of species that only one of us heard and/or saw. Not good! We have to work on that for 2009. That would have been another 6 or so species. These were: SNOWY EGRET, BELTED KINGFISHER, VIRGINIA RAIL, BLUE GROSBEAK, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, CASPIAN TERN. We left and didn't really try for the CHUCK'S as a big party was starting to form near the memorial along Caranza Rd. I am not usually out Sat. night! I mention it because Sarah and Barbara had the CHUCK a few days earlier while out scouting. Alas. No luck on 5-10. Bird lowlights - aka big misses: Purple Martin - Had at Taylor's in 2004. Was expecting to see either at Taylor's or Palmyra and couldn't come up with any house locations after I realized we weren't going to see one in flight! Scout priority for 2009. Period. Hey, we only had 2 MUTE SWANS at the end at Amasa Landing. In flight. That would have been a huge big miss! We had all the other swallows. Had everything in 2004. No Hairy Woodpecker. I couldn't locate a Red-haeded Woodpecker site. No Kentucky. We checked a spot from 2007 along Hawkin Rd. but perhaps too late in the morning. No Chat - none of us had the chance to scout for one. No night birds that first night. Completely, utterly, surprising shut out! I have had bad nights before, but not like that! We couldn't understand either as a fine clear night. Cold, but little wind, the stars were out. Oh well! First bird - CANADA GOOSE Last bird - WHIP Since we used two cars - one in the morning, the other in the afternoon, I lost track of mileage. It was a lot! Burlington is the biggest NJ county and yes, you have to cover it all - from the Delaware River in the west to Amasa Landing near the coast on the east. That was a long haul! Some places we hit - somewhat in order: Rancocas area for night birding - complete bust. Will start elsewhere next year! The Delaware River was good at dawn. Always something moving. Alas this year no lingering Great Corm or flying Scoters. But this is good - we keep for 2009. Palmyra at dawn - nice - most of our migrant warblers were here. In 2004 I started at Hawkin Rd. and the Dot Everit Trail. Can't say as it worked any better because I missed Kentucky Warbler then too! If we do the river at dawn, Palmyra is next. It's too long a drive to Hawkin Rd. Hawkin Rd. - was good. Had all the breeders except the above mentioned. Well, no Black-billed Cuckoo either. Missed that also in 2004. Hate that bird! We got everything right where Sarah had them scouted. Still took time. I think we got there around 8:30. I think. That's getting late and stuff was quiet. We hit a nice farm field that has held shorebirds all week. Well...... don't ask - it was completely devoid of birds! No snipe, etc. Back to Rancocas for some feeder watching. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, but no Red-breasted Nuthatch - which are around there. Of course! There was a couple stops in there. We hit Creekview Pond even though I had nothing all week while scouting. And still nothing! Brightview Farm was around 11:30AM or so. I think. And everything did cooperate there. But man is that place a long haul. But no choice. Has all the birds! We made an afternoon run down the Delaware. Birds we knew were around. And we saw. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, the GULLS at Florence, etc. The horse pasture at Taylor's - that is a lovely shorebird spot when wet. Juliustown Rd. had a nice flooded field where I got Pectoral Sandpiper back in 2004. The field was not flooded when I scouted this year, but things could have changed because of all the rain we had on Friday. We never had the chance to check up here. But all this took time and we headed out to Amasa Landing around 5:00PM was it? I am forgetting. But very late. Made two stops. For PEWEE - got. Missed Summer Tanager. The we stopped at the Chatsworth area of the Franklin-Parker Preserve. Well, guess what??? The shorebirds had all gone. We laughed..... Amasa Landing - salt marsh habitat. Got everything we were after. And more - like those last minute face-saving MUTE SWANS. Phew. CLAPPER RAIL, SB DOWS, WILLETS, SEASIDE SPARROWS, BOAT-TAILED GRACKLES, etc. In 2004 I stayed here at dusk and heard Great Horned Owl and Whip. We might do this in 2009. And try for a Barred Owl in the cedar groves along the drive home. Worked for me in 2004! We listened again for a bit for GHO back at Rancocas. Nope. I hit Medford WMA back in 2004. It was good. Bobwhite and all. I never had the chance to scout this year. There's nothing like doing a county big year and then knowing where all the breeders are come the big day! Nature notes: Green, Chorus, and Bull Frogs and Spring Peepers calling at Taylor's. Good birding all - I look forward to reading others' accounts of their runs. Sandra Keller Barrington, NJ sandrakeller AT verizon.netSubject: Re: From Prime Hook to Sandy Hook (long)--Wood Sandpiper, Cape May Warbler etc, PICS From: Steve Glynn <SouthJerseyGlynn AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 11:11:26 -0400 My son Kevin and I had a similar day yesterday. We too got up early and were intent on capturing this celebrated lifer. We got to Prime Hook about 7:00am, just as the steady light rain began. The lighting wasn't very good for getting good digiscoped pics with, but seeing the bird and watching it was great. What pics I could get can be seen at my Flickr account below. After leaving Prime Hook, we ventured down to Lewes, DE and picked up some good looks at Brown-headed Nuthatch, and at least considered taking the ferry and getting in a poor-man's pelagic trip, but with the rain falling lightly, but steadily, we thought the better of it. So on to Bombay Hook. Bombay Hook gave my son great looks at Avocets and Black-necked Stilts. We then headed further north on Route 9, to seek out King Rail near St. George's, but struck out. Did get great looks at a very close range Solitary Sandpiper and Little Blue Heron for our troubles. From there is was back over the Del-Mem-Br and great looks at Bobolinks along Featherbed Lane. Heading back to home turf in Cumberland County, we enjoyed birding in Beven WMA, finding a great looking pair of Summer Tanagers at the railroad tracks and Prothonotary Warbler near Bear Swamp East. Heading over the Heislerville, our hopes were on another euro-vagrant, but couldn't be so lucky this time with the Curlew Sandpiper. Good looks at other shorebirds was the order of business, with great views of Dows, Semi's and a very sharp Spotted. Heading out of Heislerville and down to Langley Road, we were not disappointed with nice views of Blue Grosbeak and great views of Yellow-breasted Chat. With my son still hoping to find Scarlett Tanager for the day, but with limited time left, a very proud and loud male was singing his heart out along Leesburg- Belleplain Road, right at the corner with Route 347. We were both delighted. A quick meal at the Mauricetown Diner, and with dusk at hand, we ended our evening to the sounds of Chuck-wills-Widow along Dragston Road. Not done yet, we headed out again this morning and enjoyed a lot of activity at Dix WMA. Highlights included Peregrine Falcon, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Veery, (4) Vireo species, (16) warbler species and very nice, final surprise of Red-headed Woodpecker along Back Neck Road. One very troubling note though was a complete lack of any sightings of Red Knots along the shoreline at Seabreeze. Some, not many, Turnstones, but a complete zero on Red Knots. We ended our morning by searching for the Sandhill Cranes near Husted Landing, but struck out. Happily though, the area did provide us with Willow Flycatcher and several Sharp-tailed Saltmarsh Sparrows. Good birding everyone! Steve Glynn Millville, NJ http://www.flickr.com/photos/southjerseybirderSubject: From Prime Hook to Sandy Hook (long)--Wood Sandpiper, Cape May Warbler etc, PICS From: JEFFERY DAVIS <jwdjwd67 AT MSN.COM> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 10:04:43 -0400 Long story about our long day of birding yesterday. Here goes: Yesterday morning, we got up "dark and early" at 3:00 am so we could make it to Prime Hook by first light to see the little brown and white wader that has become such a celebrity. While Jeff drove, I used the dashboard light to work on the final paper I'd sworn that no migrant, no matter how far off course, would distract me from. Two hours, seventeen minutes, two big cans of RockStar and half a page later, we arrived at Broadkill Beach Road where several other birders had already set up scope, and immediately got us on the WOOD SANDPIPER! (Thanks again!). We watched him energetically searching out his prey, traversing the long shallow pools and providing us with side-by-side comparisons with a SOLITARY SANDPIPER and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, bobbing his little back end as he went. While Jeff snapped a couple hundred (mostly very blurry) pictures through the scope, I followed the songs of a BLUE GROSBEAK and NORTHERN BOBWHITE, but didn't get any looks. Finally, guiltily, I went back to the car where I managed to write another half a page before going back out to watch the sandpiper until the rain finally chased us away around 8:00 am. Some other species seen/heard at Broadkill Road were (in order of appearance): COMMON GRACKLE, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, CANADA GOOSE, OSPREY, NORTHERN SHOVELER, HERRING GULL, LAUGHING GULL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, AMERICAN CROW, GREAT EGRET, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, GREEN HERON, WILLET, SONG SPARROW, GLOSSY IBIS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, BARN SWALLOW, LEAST SANDPIPER, FORSTER'S TERN, NORTHERN CARDINAL, WILSON'S SNIPE, MALLARD, YELLOW WARBLER. Having gotten our "Big Get," we decided to push our luck and head to Sandy Hook NJ to try for the Wilson's Phalarope (a nemesis bird for us) and the Loggerhead Shrike that had been seen (our decision was partly based on the premise that the New Jersey Turnpike was the perfect distraction-free study location.) We needed to re-stock our supplies so we hit up the Wawa outside of Dover for some study aids (aka caffeine and sugar)--and saw a sad sight. Laid out on top of the trash can there was a dead Common Yellowthroat, presumably a window fatality. After Jeff convinced me not to bring him with us (a friend of mine is a taxidermist), we were off. Four hours, two bottles of Diet Mountain Dew, one paragraph and a weary, teary-eyed throwdown (over barbecue!) later, we arrived in Sandy Hook, where we found that the birders far outnumbered the birds. Neither shrike nor phalarope had been seen. However, we were told that there were two CAPE MAY WARBLERS seen on the Fisherman's Trail, so that's where we headed. Pointed in the right direction by another helpful birder (Thanks again!), we spent about 45 minutes trying to find the warblers, and finally we did (at least, one of them)! We watched him feeding among the white (plum?) blossoms, his beak covered in pollen, and happily, Jeff got a few "glamour shots" of him. He was just gorgeous, and he was our second lifer for the day! Other species seen/heard on Fisherman's Trail included: EASTERN TOWHEE, AMERICAN ROBIN, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, GRAY CATBIRD, MOURNING DOVE, BARN SWALLOW, HERRING GULL, HOUSE WREN, NORTHERN CARDINAL, CAROLINA WREN, YELLOW WARBLER, OSPREY, HOUSE FINCH, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, LAUGHING GULL, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, TREE SWALLOW, WHITE-EYED VIREO, WILLET, COMMON TERN, FIELD SPARROW, HOUSE SPARROW, and a warbler with a yellow rump which may or may not have been the second CAPE MAY reported (only Jeff got a too-brief glance at it). Finally, we went back to the Audubon Center, where we watched the feeder birds, and others, which included: HOUSE FINCH, HOUSE SPARROW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, COMMON GRACKLE, EUROPEAN STARLING, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, INDIGO BUNTING, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, BRANT, HERRING GULL, AMERICAN ROBIN, AMERICAN CROW, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, CEDAR WAXWING, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, RING-BILLED GULL, CHIPPING SPARROW, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, COMMON TERN and OSPREY. Jeff got some nice pictures of the grosbeak, White-crowns and waxwings. All pics are posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/21068017 AT N07/ and I am working on uploading a video of the Wood Sandpiper (without much success--if I get it I'll post again). Regards, and happy birding, Amy and Jeff Davis Downingtown, Chester County, PA Checkout our bird photos at the link below: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21068017 AT N07/Subject: Re: Band? From: Grant Stevenson <grantstevenson44 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 03:44:08 -0700 ok for jerseybirds, too? Carmen, is this too long? g. --- On Sun, 5/11/08, Grant StevensonSubject: WSB report, Mercer County...long From: Nigel Bates <henriettapaws AT MSN.COM> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 22:47:26 -0400 Hello everyone- This year my mom, grandma, and I again formed a team and did Mercer County in the World Series of Birding. In total, we found 115 species, 13 more than last year's total. The number was good for 75% of par. We began at 4 am in Hopewell and soon heard a Great Horned Owl and an early-rising House Wren. From there we proceeded to nearby Crusher Rd where we heard turkey, Blue-winged Warbler, and Ovenbird as well as numerous common birds. After daybreak, we headed to Princeton (Rogers Refuge). We had to work a bit for the birds present, but the reward was tremendous. We came out of Princeton with 60 species, highlighted by Nashville, Cape May, Blackburnian, Canada, and Wilson's warblers. An added bonus was the Lesser Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper on the marsh. After a quick stop in downtown Princeton for pigeon and House Sparrow, we headed back to Hopewell. Several stops in and around town yielded such birds as thrasher, redstart, Chimney Swift, and White-throated Sparrow. We then headed to the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed, where the breeding Green Heron was present at the pond. Other birds seen and heard at the watershed included Warbling Vireo, kingfisher, Black-billed Cuckoo, and Orchard Oriole. We tried for the Killdeer at the Honey Brook Farm but were unsuccessful (more on that later). However, a nice bonus was a White-crowned Sparrow perched on a fencepost at the farm. Then it was on to Turning Basin Park, which didn't produce anything of note, and then to a staked-out eagle nest, where we also found Northern Rough-winged Swallow. From there we headed to the Millstone Aqueduct, which produced Ring-billed Gull and Osprey. The dam south of Kingston (barely within the county) was rather unproductive, but the next stop, Rosedale Park, added several good birds such as Cedar Waxwing, Indigo Bunting, and Eastern Kingbird. The Pole Farm offered Grasshopper Sparrow and a Sharpie. After a quick stop at a staked-out Coop nest, we headed to Baldpate Mountain, which gave up Chestnut-sided Warbler but not much else. By then we were up to 97 species, and breaking our old record seemed ridiculously easy. However, we hit a lull after Baldpate in which we gained no new species in over an hour, coming up empty at both Washington Crossing State Park and the D&R Canal. In addition, we were still missing White- breasted Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker, Scarlet Tanager, and Herring Gull, among others. After the canal, we drove down Rte 29 toward Trenton. A flock of gulls in the Delaware restarted the tally, producing Laughing, Herring, and Great Black- backed (100th species) gulls. This seemed to kick-start our efforts, for minutes later we scored Ruby-throated Hummingbird, then Solitary and our record-breaking Least Sandpiper at Duck Island, where we also tallied Marsh Wren. After wandering around a dead-quiet Trenton Marsh for half an hour, we headed to Mercer County Park. The north end of the park finally produced a Yellow-breasted Chat after some time, but Blue Grosbeak would not cooperate. We then headed to the east end of the park to try and clean up some missing woodland species. Although we finally got White-breasted Nuthatch, neither Hairy Woodpecker nor Scarlet Tanager would not show and we ended up missing them for the day. A bonus was a pair of Broad-winged Hawks overhead. We left Mercer County Park with 107 species. Then it was back to the Honey Brook Farm for another try at Killdeer. In last year's World Series, we spent over an hour late in the day searching for the very same Killdeer after several fruitless tries earlier in the day. Last year, we pulled it out at the last minute, and the same ended up to be true for this year. Killdeer was species number 108. With a half hour to spare before dusk, we decided to go back to Rosedale Park to search for a still-missing Swamp Sparrow. We were scouring the brush when I noticed a shorebird flying over. Everyone got on it and amazingly, it turned out to be a Pectoral Sandpiper! After a nice long look in flight, the bird disappeared into the sunset over the tree line. Finding the Swamp Sparrow itself was rather anticlimatic. My mom located one in a marshy thicket near the parking lot just as we were preparing to leave. As dusk fell, we left Rosedale with 110 species. The nearby Pole Farm was our site for a woodcock display, and we heard the birds within fifteen minutes for our 111th species. We then headed to Princeton, where a cacaphony of screech-owls (112th) drowned out almost everything on the marsh. Little by little, though, we started to pick out the sounds of other night birds. First we heard an American Bittern pumping, then the Least Bittern's "po-po-po". Our last bird of the day was another marsh bird, a Virginia Rail. Although we never did hear a Barred Owl, it was still a great finish as we ended with 115 species. Overall, it was a great day with wonderful birds and, remarkably, decent weather. There were few glaring misses, the only ones being Greater Yellowlegs, Hairy Woodpecker, both waterthrushes, and Scarlet Tanager. Although I believe this personal record will probably stand for some time given the county, we'll certainly be out there again next year attempting to break it. ~Nigel Bates Hopewell, NJSubject: Garret Mountain From: Chris Wyluda <Lutachris AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 20:45:36 EDT not world-series birding, but we arrived about 6:30am and persisted until 1pm.... We also came perilously closed to smashing into a red tailed hawk on the Parkway near Metro-Park..eek. together, we got 16 warbler species, but the predominant birds were BTB(m), redstart (m), and northern parulas ...also there was a fall out of oven birds and veeries, which were everywhere: Nashville, n. parula, chestnut-sided (m,F), magnolia, Cape May, BTB (mostly m, a few f), yellow-rumped, BTG, blackpoll, b&w, Amer. redstart, ovenbird, n. waterthrush, common yellowthroat, Canada It was very wet from the rain, and there were not many "ground" birds on the ground in the lower lying areas- the common yellow throats were up in the trees. Also: solitary sandpiper, n. flicker, great crested flycatcher, phoebe, vireos: blue-headed, warbling and red-eyed. Red and white-breasted nuthatches, veery, Swainson's thrush, wood thrush, brown thrasher, scarlet tanager, e. towhee, sparrows: chipping, swamp and white-throated, rose-breasted grosbeak (m,f), Baltimore orioles (nesting), e. towhee, lots of catbirds [as a personal oddity, I have yet to see a palm or a prairie warbler in NJ....usually fairly easy ones to spot..] **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)Subject: Garret Mountain 5/10 From: Erica Mueller <blueocean92082 AT OPTONLINE.NET> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 00:45:59 +0000 At Garret Mtn this morning- not for the world series, but just for fun....all of these birds were found in just a walk around the pond by the entrance Species- Green Heron Canada Goose Mallard Turkey Vulture Red tailed Hawk Broad Winged Hawk- flew over the entrance road Wild Turkey Mourning Dove Red bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Great Crested Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Tree Swallow Northern Rough Winged Swallow Tufted Titmouse White Breasted Nuthatch American Robin Veery- 2 around the main pond Wood Thrush-1 Brown Thrasher Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird- doing its wing flashing behavior on the ground Blue Jay Northern Parula Black-throated Green Warbler Black and White Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Magnolia Warbler- 2 males Yellow-rumped Warbler Blackburnian Warbler- 1 male American Redstart- 3 males, 1 female Yellow Warbler Nashville Warbler- 1 male Common Yellowthroat Ovenbird Northern Cardinal Rose breasted Grosbeak- 2 males, 1 female Eastern Towhee White throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird European Starling Brown-headed Cowbird House Sparrow Northern Oriole- lots and lots of these guys, one of my favorites! Erica Mueller Lincoln ParkSubject: Re: a quick laugh before the start of the world series... From: Christopher Vogel <glaucidium AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 21:31:55 -0700 And don't forget, that today is actually International Migratory Bird Day, and has been for some time. A laudable international conservation event. http://www.birdday.org/ Cheers CJV Cape May, NJ birdcapemay.net --- Evan CutlerSubject: Meadowlands shorebirds From: Michael Britt <mbritt78 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 12:00:10 -0400 Jerseybirders, There were at least 1000+ shorebirds on the flats at Sawmill Creek on my commute home in the rain yesterday evening. Locals might want to get out there and see what's around. Unfortunately, I'm stuck doing a paper today and tomorrow is Mother's Day (not unfortunate;) Mike Britt Clifton _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live for mobile, your contacts travel with you. http://www.windowslive.com/mobile/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_mobile_052008Subject: World Series of (yard) birding From: Dena Temple <denat01 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 10:18:51 -0400 This is the first time in 13 years I haven't participated in the WSB -- couldn't get a team together. But old habits die hard, so I was out at dawn yard birding, just to see what I could get in one day. By 8am I had about 40 species, including 10 warblers, SCARLET TANAGER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, VEERY and the biggest surprise of the morning, a DARK-EYED JUNCO singing his little brains out. This is a bird NEVER FOUND by our team during a WSB! Warblers included FOS BLACK-THROATED BLUE, FOS MAGNOLIA, and lots of NORTHERN PARULA and BLACK-THROATED GREEN. A possible HOODED was too fleeting to count for certain. Better get back out there -- there's lots of day to go! Good birding, Dena Temple Middletown, NJ denat01 at verizon.netSubject: A.M. yard birds From: susan richart <newjerseytea AT PATMEDIA.NET> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 08:00:49 -0400 Before the contractor arrived and started making noise, I heard and saw American Redstart (FOS), BT Blue and BT Green Warblers. Susie R. Tewksbury/CalifonSubject: a quick laugh before the start of the world series... From: Evan Cutler <evancutler AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 20:50:12 -0700 With just a few minutes to go before the start of this year's World Series, it is pouring rain outside my window here in Montclair. So do we wait for it to stop pouring, or throw caution to the wind? While you decide, I thought it couldn't hurt to get everyone's spirits up a bit by posting this video of the 2000 World Series of Birding. It is only three minutes or so, and I guarantee you'll laugh at least three times. http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=106128&title=the-world-series-of-birding Good luck this weekend everyone! Evan Cutler Montclair, NJSubject: NAMC: ON THE IMPORTANCEMIGRANT LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE OBSERVATIONS From: Grant Stevenson <grantstevenson44 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 20:44:42 -0700 Hi,
Dr. Tom Cade
Eastern Shrike Watch, CA
Dr. Dave Bird, McGill
Dr. D. Gross, PAGC
Dr. Dan Brauning, PAGC
Dr. K.L. Bildstein
PABIRDS
JERSEYBIRDERS
The Loggerhead Shrike may have been sighted in Perkasie (awating PORC review)
and at Sandy Hook this spring. I believe I may have seen an individual in the
preferred habitat/niche, grassland in an old orchard small tree, about in the
middle, about 2 ft. from the crown. Individuals should be seen as migratory
"Migrant Shrikes", L.l. migrans, the Eastern Loggerhead. More positive proof w/
technology is sorely needed to take this species off the PA Biological Survey's
OTC- Endangered List (2000) and possibly the PAGC Species of Special Concern,
though considered by PORC (2005) as regular, showing possible error in
PORC procedure and lack of state oversight...I definitely do not agree with
this designation since its only recent accepted breeding records are in Adams
Co., in southcentral-PA, on the MD border...a native nester historically, this
species main enemies, natural and unnatural, are habitat loss, road and
window-kill, rodenticides, insecticides, and herbicides, and natural cyclical
grasshopper and small rodent populations.
Identification: Similar to NS's but smaller with shorter tails; light color
lores of NS absent, and thicker black mask which to the beak, which is all
gray/black, including the lower mandible; robin-sized, but neck as wide as head
and shorter; in direct sun, black upper -body may appear slate-blue, flanks may
also be hueish; light during sunset may cause an uneven reddich hue.
Behavior.- Perches in small trees sitting and waiting for prey or singing for
territorial dominance over migratory stopover
resources...swoops from tree-to-tree in "shallow"-stoop bottomed-out arc.
When at prey will pause, hop over to it, and grab it, by the neck if a rodent
or bird, like a small sparrow not as big as a HOSP. If the bird attacks a bird
with its feet, and takes out the eyes to watch it "flop about" before killing
it, is an anomily because this is the habit of a NS. But some observations of
Loggerheads confirm this behavior in LS's, though not observed often, at least
using the feet as killing tools. May fly after prey into windows at feeders and
in migration into skyscrapers (check backyards; city streets); rural roads near
grassy fields with forbs and perches-- 7% of breeding pop. may die at roads,
but w/fledglings, only 2-3% of pop. Maintenance.- Preening, bathing,
strectching, bill-wiping, cleaning. Though caged birds show "individuality"
toward captors, instinctive motor and behavior patterns take over in the wild,
such
as with breeding biology and ecology and sexual sociality, such as dominance,
and hunting/caching. Caching may be a sexual selection technique, derived from
corvid wedging evolutionarily.
Voice.- Rythem, pitch, and quality, etc., learned, thus mimricry possible, but
never documented. Burrrr, queedle, queedle, queedle, like that of the
mockingbirds, repeated 3-20 times; note= shack, shack.
Grant G. Stevenson
http://pahawkowl.livejournal.com
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Subject: Iceland Gull & E. Collared Dove continue in Cape May, Lots o Lesser Black BacksFrom: Christopher Vogel <glaucidium AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 17:54:31 -0700 The first year Iceland Gull was re-found by Tom Johnson et al near the Second Avenue Jetty, it was in the company of no fewer than 7 Lesser Black Backed Gulls, and a dozen Royal Terns. The Royals and the Icleand Gull were next to each other, affording a rarely seen photo op. There were also multiple Cattle Egrets around the Point today, on some unexpected lawns, and the" Eurasian Collared Dove continues near St. Mary's neighborhood. Cheers CJV Cape May, NJ birdcapemay.netSubject: Re: OT - Possum skulls From: Gary&Karen Gentile <kbbb99 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 16:45:39 -0400 I was once told, by a naturalist at Cattus Island, that field mice chew bones any time that they find them, as a source of calcium. > Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 16:37:34 -0400> From: newjerseytea AT PATMEDIA.NET> Subject: [JerseyBirds] OT - Possum skulls> To: JerseyBirds AT Princeton.EDU> > After the first of the ice melted during the winter, I went out in the yard> to spread deer scram around the native shrubs. While going about the yard,> I noticed a number of possum skulls, maybe 4, which struck me as being> unusual. I find skulls every so often but have never seen that many at one> time. (I don't know whether it's illegal or not, but I have a beautiful> screech owl skull on my mantle.)> > Anyway, sometime later I noticed one of the skulls inside the fence (all had> been on the other side of the fence when I first noticed them) on top of a> wood pile. A few days later it was gone.> > Last weekend, I found a skull at the base of a white pine. At the> suggestion of another JerseyBirder, I marked it and put it back at the base> of the tree. A few days later it was 20' away, then it was moved another 5'> and today it is nowhere in sight. The skull doesn't seem to have been> chewed at all. Very strange.> > What's messing with my possum skulls?> > Susie R.> Tewksbury/Califon> > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger. http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_messenger_052008Subject: The Rose-breasted From: Gary&Karen Gentile <kbbb99 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 16:39:20 -0400 Grosbeaks were in the yard again today, in the pouring rain, although there were only 2 males and 1 female. They were on the mixed seed feeders and when a Red-winged Blackbird came onto the feeder, the female Grosbeak made the most unbelievable screeching sounds, pecked at the Blackbird (m) and off the Blackbird flew! For those of you who asked..........I live outside of Asbury Park, in Wanamassa, in a wooded area! Although we are getting more and more species of birds, we don't get many Warblers or Vireos, although I will look harder now that we had such a Great yard day this week! The Catbirds are enjoying the fresh grapes and Mandarin Orange sections and cranberries that I put out every day. We still do not have the 9 or 10 Catbirds we had 1 summer. _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live for mobile, your contacts travel with you. http://www.windowslive.com/mobile/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_mobile_052008Subject: OT - Possum skulls From: susan richart <newjerseytea AT PATMEDIA.NET> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 16:37:34 -0400 After the first of the ice melted during the winter, I went out in the yard to spread deer scram around the native shrubs. While going about the yard, I noticed a number of possum skulls, maybe 4, which struck me as being unusual. I find skulls every so often but have never seen that many at one time. (I don't know whether it's illegal or not, but I have a beautiful screech owl skull on my mantle.) Anyway, sometime later I noticed one of the skulls inside the fence (all had been on the other side of the fence when I first noticed them) on top of a wood pile. A few days later it was gone. Last weekend, I found a skull at the base of a white pine. At the suggestion of another JerseyBirder, I marked it and put it back at the base of the tree. A few days later it was 20' away, then it was moved another 5' and today it is nowhere in sight. The skull doesn't seem to have been chewed at all. Very strange. What's messing with my possum skulls? Susie R. Tewksbury/CalifonSubject: Wisconsin Whooping Cranes abandon nests From: Peter Burke <peterburke AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 14:48:44 -0400 JerseyBirders, For anyone interested on this rainy day, I noticed a story reporting that the 11 pairs of Whooping Cranes that nested in central Wisconsin this spring have all abandoned their nests. Biologists collected at least seven fertile eggs, however, and transported them to the ICF for incubation. You can read Matt Mendenhall's post here: http://bwfov.typepad.com/birders_world_field_of_vi/2008/05/cranes-abandon.html Peter Burke Peapack, NJSubject: Eating Crane From: Christopher Vogel <glaucidium AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 08:06:57 -0700 Big ole "oops!" Apparently the Sandhill Crane at the Cape May Cty. Zoo is NOT a wild bird. Despite what I had "heard" (from 2 different folks, not just the first fellow who "asked the zookeeper". Ahem.... My own fault for not looking into it personnaly, and taking hearsay at face value! Oh Well, sorry for causing confusion & spreading bad info. But I am getting a pretty good laugh this morning out of having one inadvertently put over on me though. Cheers CJV Cape May, NJ birdcapemay.netSubject: breeding Yellow Rail in Maine From: Tom Bailey <ammodramus AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 16:01:38 +0000 Several people have mentioned the St. Lawrence region of Quebec in the previous Yellow Rail discussion. Evidently a few also breed in Maine - http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/JFO/v062n04/p0509-p0516.pdf Tom -- Tom Bailey Tabernacle, NJ ammodramus AT comcast.netSubject: Celery Farm (Friday AM) From: John Workman <JSWorkman AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:49:38 EDT Raining steadily. Wet, cool and a little miserable. A good opportunity (I
thought) to look for a grounded KY Warbler (no luck).
Total # species in the rushed hour of birding before work: 40 (of which only
5 were warbs; full list submitted to eBird). Top pre-WSB honors went to:
1. Indigo Bunting: Award for "Best-Looking Bird in the Rain."
2. Northern Waterthrush (2): "Singing in the Rain" Award, with one enjoying
the flooded footpath.
3. Rusty Blackbird: "Best Female Vocalist in a Solo Performance": she was
a beauty, and there were no others of her species around, which was a damn
shame.
=============
Public Service Notice / Attn WSB teams: This morning, I did NOT see, or
hear, the Prothonotary Warbler found yesterday by Rob Fanning.
John Workman
Ridgewood, NJ
**************
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Subject: DVOC Gloucester County trip clarificationFrom: Sandra Keller <sandrakeller AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 10:04:39 -0500 Hello,
Just noticed that the date in some reports is still Monday,
May 12. No. I changed it to Monday, May 19. Everything
else is still the same. Only I will make a run by the Fries Mill
entrance to see if open. If it is we will start there. Glassboro Woods
I am talking about. It should be open until May 23. The end of
Turkey hunting season. And no I don't figure these things out,
a fellow Jerseybirder emailed me. Anyway, I will come collect people
at Carpenter. I don't want to change the meeting location as the gate
could be closed at Fries Mills. We will hit some of Glassboro Woods
and then some of Scotland Run which is nearby. I haven't decided on
two afternoon spots yet.
Sandra Keller
Barrington, NJ
sandrakeller AT verizon.net
Subject: rain and shorebird fieldsFrom: Sandra Keller <sandrakeller AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 09:20:56 -0500 I am hoping this deluge will flood a few of my favorite farmfields in Burlington County. But we need the shorebirds to fly in and find them also! We have time to check some areas in the afternoon. County run teams probably do. Full state run teams are locked into a schedule. This will be the only change to our plans. Look for flooded fields. A Curlew Sandpiper would be nice. Heislerville is the spot for that one though! I'll get down Tues maybe for some more spring shorebirding. I miss. The front is supposed to clear long before we start listening for night birds. I am keeping my fingers crossed on that! Good luck all. Sandra Keller Barrington, NJ sandrakeller AT verizon.netSubject: stoneybrook milstone watershed 5/7 From: Chris Wyluda <Lutachris AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 22:59:50 EDT squeezed in an hour from 6:30-7:30 pm at this site- rather quiet but I did see blue winged and yellow warblers. Other years there have always been singing prairies- heard a possible faint song but no bird sighting. Also, there are barn swallows back (some one was studying this last year..) and a purple martin (this is a place with a purple martin house but I have not seen martins in it...). Brown thrasher, still very vocal and I saw him about 10 days ago in the exact same location, still singing...white eyed vireo. blue gray gnatcatchers. **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)Subject: Celery Farm today From: Erica Mueller <blueocean92082 AT OPTONLINE.NET> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 02:51:39 +0000 Birded Celery Farm from 5pm until 7:15. No luck on seeing the Prothonotary, but the weather turned out to be gorgeous. Species seen Great Blue Heron- 2, one caught a good sized fish Great Egret- 3 Black Crowned Night Heron- nice view of this guy perched in a tree Mute Swan Canada Goose Mallard Wood Duck- 1 female Sharp shinned Hawk Mourning Dove Northern Flicker Eastern Kingbird Purple Martin Tree Swallow Black capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Carolina Wren Blue Gray Gnatcatcher American Robin Gray Catbird- very abundant- lots of them singing Northern Mockingbird Blue Jay American Crow Warbling Vireo-2 American Redstart- 1 male Yellow Warbler- also lots of males singing Common Yellowthroat Northern Waterthrush Northern Cardinal American Goldfinch White throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Common Grackle Rusty Blackbird-1 Red winged Blackbird Northern Oriole- 2 males House SparrowSubject: Sandy Hook- Swallow tailed & Mississippi Kites, etc From: Scott Barnes <myiarchus16 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 19:06:52 -0700 Jerseybirders,
Today was an awesome day for birding at Sandy Hook. The southwest winds, warm
temperatures, overcast skies, and light drizzle made for excellent birding all
day long. Lots of visible diurnal migration in the morning, followed by a
raptor flight in the afternoon. Shorebirds moving all day. Warblers feeding
through afternoon, especially in the beach plum thickets at the start of the
fisherman's trail.
Highlights:
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE- flew past the migration watch at 11:30. Last seen headed
toward Brooklyn. This was a different individual than the one seen last Friday
base on the tail length as compared in photos.
MISSISSIPPI KITE- three birds made it out to the end of the hook today and
were visible together at 4:45 pm. At least bird appeared to be an adult male.
Like many raptors that don't want to cross the mouth of Raritan Bay, one of the
kites turned around and flew south over the Spermaceti Cove sandbar towards
Highlands.
WHITE-WINGED DOVE- found by Tom Boyle this morning as it flew out of the
locust grove near north pond. Subsequently seen two more times by John van Dort
and others from the hawk watch platform. Last sighting was around noonish.
Other interesting birds today and some noteworthy numbers included:
2 Least Bitterns
23 Ospreys
2 Bald Eagles
23 Northern Harriers
13 Merlins
35 Solitary Sandpipers
100+ Gr./Ls. Yellowlegs
Iceland Gull (all white, probably FY)- flyby this evening from hawk watch
300 Common Terns
3 Black Skimmers
Olive-sided Flycatcher
120 Eastern Kingbirds
300 Blue Jays
Cliff Swallow
2 American Pipits
80 Cedar Waxwings
20 species of warbler (4 Cape Mays, Tennessee, 2 "western" Palms)
2 Seaside Sparrows
2 Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows
8 White-crowned Sparrows
Dark-eyed Junco (late)
14+ Bobolinks
5 Orchard Orioles
2 Purple Finches
6 Pine Siskins
200+ American Goldfinches
Associate Naturalist Tom Boyle and Sandy Hook Migration Watch counter John van
Dort contributed to this report.
Good Birding,
Scott Barnes
Senior Naturalist
Sandy Hook Bird Observatory
New Jersey Audubon Society
www.njaudubon.org/Centers/SHBO
---------------------------------
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Subject: A few birds and an early ButterflyFrom: Shawn Wainwright <Shawneagleeyes1 AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 21:30:08 EDT Hi everyone, here's what i saw at Silver Ridge in Toms River. T.V. - 6 RT Hawk - 1 Whip-poor-will - 2 RT Hummingbird - 2 GC Flycatcher - 1 Carolina Wren - 1 Northern Parula - 3 Yellow Warbler - 2 Pine Warbler - 4 Black-and-white Warbler - 3 Ovenbird - 2 Chipping Sparrow - 6 Towhee - 3 Butterflies seen: Spicebush Swallowtail - my earliest date by 8 days! American Lady - 2 - been seeing ladies everywhere, reminds me of the Red Admiral invasion we had last year. Cabbage White - 3 Shawn Wainwright Toms River _ShawnEagleEyes1 AT aol.com_ (mailto:ShawnEagleEyes1 AT aol.com) **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)Subject: second Curlew Sand-tis the season! From: Christopher Vogel <glaucidium AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 17:12:11 -0700 A second Curlew Sandpiper was found around Cape May today. This one was this evening, and on on the north end of Nummy's Island. word came from the Maryland Ornithological Society folks. It was still present at around 7 or so. This is the best time of year to find these guys, and the New York Bight has historically been a hotspot for Spring Curlew Sandpipers, it is very cool that the first two of the year turned up on the same day, and in traditional spots though. At least 20 Royal Terns were on Champagne Island this evening too. Nice. Cheers CJV Cape May, NJ birdcapemay.netSubject: Re: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher From: Joe T <jbirds268 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 18:00:38 -0700 This Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is not a NYC first record. There are at least 3 from Staten Island, including a well-seen [and photogrphed] one-day-wonder at Mt. Loretto Unique Area in June 2005. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJSubject: DE - Wood Sandpiper - yes From: Sandra Keller <sandrakeller AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 19:13:02 -0500 For those thinking of the trip, it's a good 2 hours and 10 minutes one way from exit number 30 off of Rt. 295. Barrington. I did take a five minute safety stop. It's a great bird and hopefully will stick around a bit as many have WSB commitments. Directions are fairly straightforward, so hit DEbirds. Broadkill Beach Rd. is just Rt. 16 going east. It's well marked off of Rt. 1 which I recommend to any Jerseybirder heading down. It was moving around a lot when myself and fellow birders saw it. Both sides of the road. Nice marsh system there. Watch for a smaller version of a Lesser Yellowlegs in flight. Or a smaller Lesser Yellowlegs, more of a Solitary Sandpiper look while feeding. That rear bobbing like the Spotted Sandpiper stands out. Lots of pics taken today by others. I can't wait to see! Good chasing all. Hmmmm..... For those doing a Cape May run who don't care too much for numbers...... a ferry ride in the afternoon could have you there and back in a few hours! Keep an eye on DEBirds that Sat morning! And I hear the WHITE-WINGED TERN has been seen recently at Ted Harvey. Not sure of a date on that. But a trip up there and a check would be worthwhile for any who want to see again. I debated on my drive home, but was running late and had to get back. I wasn't expecting that long a drive one way! Sandra Keller Barrington, NJ sandrakeller AT verizon.netSubject: red knot From: barry <b-goggin AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 17:41:31 -0400 I received the following email today. Note the " These include a delayed, male-only harvest in New Jersey and Delaware". How does this fit in with recent decisions? Barry Goggin Verona, NJ b-goggin at Comcast.net The following is the text of a news release issued by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: Alexandria, VA - The Commission's Horseshoe Crab Management Board has approved Draft Addendum V to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Horseshoe Crab for public comment and review. Addendum IV is due to expire on September 30, 2008. Draft Addendum V was initiated to continue horseshoe crab management in Delaware Bay. Based on the most recent surveys of horseshoe crabs, it appears that management measures in Addendum IV and previous management plans are resulting in increased horseshoe crab abundance. A horseshoe crab trawl survey administered by Virginia Tech shows increases over the past four to five years of male and female horseshoe crabs in ocean waters near the Delaware Bay. A survey of spawning crabs on the beaches of Delaware Bay indicate stable female spawning activity and increased male spawning over the past nine years. However, horseshoe crab management is a multi-species issue. Despite the positive signs in population growth of horseshoe crabs around Delaware Bay, red knots, one of many shorebird species that feed on horseshoe crab eggs, show no sign of recovery. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Shorebird Technical Committee will again examine shorebird survey data from this spring to determine the latest trends. The Draft Addendum will contain all the current provisions of Addendum IV as options. These include a delayed, male-only harvest in New Jersey and Delaware; a delayed harvest in Maryland; and a prohibition on landing of horseshoe crabs in Virginia from federal waters from January 1 through June 7. Further, the Draft Addendum proposes that no more than forty percent of Virginiaâ€*s quota may be landed from ocean waters and those landings must be comprised of a minimum male to female ratio of 2:1. Copies of the Draft Addendum will be made available by June 13, 2008. It is anticipated that several Mid-Atlantic states will be conducting public hearings on the Draft Addendum. A notice of the Draft Addendum's availability as well as the public hearing schedule will be released in mid-June. For more information, please contact Braddock Spear, Senior Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator for Policy, at (202) 289-6400 or bspear AT asmfc.org. ************************* Tina Berger Public Affairs Specialist Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 1444 I Street. NW, Sixth Floor Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202)289-6400 FAX: (202)289-6051 Email: tberger AT asmfc.org www.asmfc.orgSubject: Sandhill Crane, Eurasian Whimbrel, Iceland Gull, Curlew Sandpiper in S. Jersey From: Christopher Vogel <glaucidium AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 12:00:17 -0700 In the interest of getting the word out for rarity-seekers or month-listers: There is a Sandhill Crane in, of all places the Zebra exhibit in the "african Savannah" at the Cape May County Zoo. It is a free-flying, wild bird apparently, who dropped in and is paling around with the captive Crowned Cranes. Thanks to the birder who's name I do not know who told me to go look into it. The scouting efforts of busy birders scouring the state, and unlikely to post here have turned up, just today: A Eurasian Whimbrel found by Marshall Illif et. al. is presently at Brigantine, an Iceland Gull at the South Cape May Meadows this morning, but not this afternoon, and a Curlew Sandpiper at Heiserlville. Not exactly sure who found the last two though, so apologies in advance for any thunder-stealing! No word on the Ruff found in the Meadows yesterday- he made a bee-line to the northwest, and has not, as yet, returned. Cheers CJV Cape May, NJ birdcapemay.netSubject: Wow, what a yard day From: Gary&Karen Gentile <kbbb99 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 13:53:59 -0400 yesterday was for us. There were 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (3 males and 2 females), the male Indigo Bunting, Thrush, Thrasher, Magnolia Warbler, 2 Hummingbirds, Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, 6 Catbirds, Goldfinches (at least 12 in various shades of yellow), 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Robins, Cardinals, White-throated Sparrows (3), Song Sparrow, 2 Chipping Sparrows, Baltimore Oriole (male), House Finches, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard, House Sparrows, Jays, Crows, White-breasted Nuthatch. Needless to say, I have not seen all of the species today! _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live SkyDrive lets you share files with faraway friends. http://www.windowslive.com/skydrive/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_skydrive_052008Subject: Prothonotary Warbler @ the CF From: Rob Fanning <lapwing4 AT JUNO.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 13:49:53 GMT A singing male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER is present at the Allendale Celery Farm this morning. I first saw the bird around 6:45 and it was still present when I left at 8:45. This is the 6th Prothonotary Warbler I've seen at the CF since 2001! Hopefully it will stick around all day as most others have. It's hanging around the edges of the main lake not far from the main entrance. Also of note today were 2 singing WHITE-EYED VIREOS--a bird which is not even annual at the CF. Good Birding, -Rob Fanning -Morristown _____________________________________________________________ Boost your online security with a personal firewall. Click here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2111/fc/Ioyw6iigboj8wBzTkz3TGLfJ2AgrGrxodrKxS05ob1TJfd6OybaK1Q/?count=1234567890Subject: Returning the Favor: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (NYC) From: Robert DeCandido, PhD <rdcny AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 08:04:36 -0400 On Monday, 5 May a very fine Bronx Birder, Ivan Martinez, found a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Pelham Bay Park (Bx). Perhaps this bird (once known as the Swallow-tailed Flycatcher) might head south again in the footsteps of the kite reported here last week from Sandy Hook. So this is a heads up note... Mr. Martinez is a recently retired NYC Police Officer. And this record of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher seems to be the first for NYC - not a bad rap sheet at all - with photos too. Your Humble Servant, Grand Master Roberto _______________________________________ No viruses found in this outgoing message Scanned by iolo AntiVirus 1.5.3.5 http://www.iolo.comSubject: Re: Sandy Hook May 7th From: Theodore Chase <chase_c AT AESOP.RUTGERS.EDU> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 07:35:53 -0400 If you were the couple (more particularly Stuart) who found the Cape May Warblers in the beach plum, which I watched over your shoulders, I thank you. The only bird I could add to this is a Brown Thrasher, near North Pond. And Ospreys overhead continuously, not to mention Tree and Barn Swallows. I saw - twice - a perplexing bird. At first I said White-eyed Vireo, but on seeing it again it had a dark eye and no 'spectacles'. Grayish above, whitish below, two strong white wing bars, essentially no yellow (maybe a bit on the sides). If we were in range I would say a Bell's Vireo, but we aren't, and even at Sandy Hook it seems unlikely. Ted Chase On May 7, 2008, at 5:06 PM, Stuart and Wendy wrote: > Like the folks who went to Garret Mtn. today, the Hook did not > disappoint. We had 15 species of warbler and another 5 species were > seen by others. The grand highlight in the warbler category were > the 4-5 male and 1-2 female Cape May warblers that were feeding in > the beach plum flowers at the beginning of the Fisherman's Trail. > We viewed them between 10AM and 2PM. At any given time there were > other warbler species feeding with them as well. When it was all > said and done at least 10 sp. of warbler were feeding in the beach > plum flowers as well as White-Eyed and Yellow-Throated Vireo. For > those who watched this extravaganza we all agreed we had never seen > such a sight as what transpired today. We have been birding for > almost 20 years and this was a first time experience watching the > Cape May warblers at close range and at eye level like we saw them > today!! > > The Wilson's Phalarope continues at the salt pond at the end of the > Fisherman's Trail at the north end of the Hook. > Neither the Glaucous Gull or Loggerhead Shrike were refound today. > > > Highlights seen by us and/or others > > Peregrine Falcon dining on either a RW Blackbird or Grackle > Bald Eagle- flyover at the hawkwatch platform > E.Wood-Pewee > Least Flycatcher > E.Phoebe > E.Kingbird > Red-breasted Nuthatch > RC Kinglet > Veery > Hermit Thrush > Swainson's Thrush > White-eyed Vireo > Red-Eyed vireo > Yellow-throated Vireo > Blue-winged warbler > Tenn. > Nashville > N.Parula > Yellow > Magnolia > Cape May > BTB and BTG > Yellow-Rumped > Blackburniam > Prairie > Western Palm > Blackpoll > Black and white > Am.Redstart > Ovenbird > N.Waterthrush > Com. Yellowthroat > Scarlet Tanager > Rose-breasted Grosbeak > Indigo bunting > Dickcissel > Chipping Sparrow > Lincoln's Sparrow > White-crowned Sparrow- yesterday > Dark-eyed junco > Bobolink > E.Meadowlark > Orchard Oriole > Baltimore Oriole > > Good birding, > > Wendy and Stuart Malmid > Monroe Twp, NJSubject: Phalarope & Shrike/Sandy Hook From: Neil Nappe <jbird AT nappe.com> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 23:41:44 -0400 These images are from yesterday. Light was so-so. Was there 13 hours today, no sign of the shrike. Thought I saw it early, pretty sure it was just a distant kingbird. Phalarope continues in pond. SH was awesome today, as per other comments. The warblers in the Beach Plum Blossoms are a must see. Will try to post some image links as time permits. The birds bills are covered with pollen. Totally nuts. Also, 3 very cooperative male tanagers in the grove, late afternoon. Apologies for the man-made thorns, but is is a shrike, after all... http://www.d-v-tech.com/images/D300/DSC_8330-750.jpg http://www.d-v-tech.com/images/D300/DSC_8338-750.jpg ___ NeilSubject: Ruff at South Cape May From: Christopher Vogel <glaucidium AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 18:01:59 -0700 There was an immature male Ruff-with a black "cap" and some patchy black feathers on his breast- this afternoon along the east path of the South Cape May Meadows. Otherwise in Cape May, several Bald Eagles (as in two very young birds, and one adult kettling up together), a "raft" of three Parasitic Jaegers, a Hen Common Eider waddling around on the beach, and some territotiral Yellow-breasted Chats were also very nice birds. Royal and Common Terns are in Hereford Inlet, and there were roughly 300 Whumbrel- all dark-rumped as far as I could tell, at Nummy's Island at Sunset. Cheers CJV Cape May, NJ birdcapemay.netSubject: Hudson/Passiac/Bergen - Laurel Hill Ravens update, Garret Mt PM, Tenafly From: Edna & Ray Duffy <marshwren AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 01:54:51 +0000 - I can now officially confirm that the Secaucus Raven nest has at least 5 fledglings. I had thought so a few weeks ago, but 3 of the fledglings have left the nest and started perching on nearby rocks and 2 still remain on the nest. Nick from the paddling center at the park saw one of the adults take out a mockingbird nest and I'm guessing that is what one of the adults was flying back to the fledglings with. Other notes include 1 black-crowned night heron and 2 green herons. - I visited Garret Mt this afternoon at 3:30pm. I found my FOY Swainson's Thrush. I also found a Lincoln's Sparrow on the east side of Barbour's Pond. Lists : Tenafly Nature Center/Lost Brook Preserve - 5/5/08 3:30pm-6:15pm 37 species : 1 Female Wood Duck 1 turkey Vulture 1 female belted kingfisher 5 wood thrush 1 male chestnut-sided warbler 2 male magnolia warbler 1 male black-throated blue warbler 5 yellow-rumped warblers 2 palm warblers 15 black-and-white warblers 1 male american redstart 25 ovenbirds 6 male common yellow-throat 1 female scarlet tanager 1 male eastern towhee 2 swamp sparrows 1 female rose-breasted grosbeak 7 baltimore orioles Garret Mt 5/7 3:30pm-6:50pm 46 species Canada Geese - there's about 10 or 12 goslings around Barbour's pond 4 solitary sandpipers around barbour's pond 1 warbling vireo (barbour's pond) 2 veery 3 swainson's thrush 1 hermit thrush 2 wood thrushes 1 brown thrusher 1 male northern parula 2 male magnolia warbler (wilson ave) 1 female black-throated blue (near barbour's pond) yellow-rumped warblers 3 male american redstarts (Barbour's & Wilson) ovenbirds 3 northern waterthrush common yellowthroats 2 scarlet tanagers (1 m/1 f) 1 lincoln's sparrow (near barbour's pond) 1 male indigo bunting (near barubour's pond) 1 male orchard oriole (wilson's ave) baltimore orioles I also have photos of the Wilson's Phalarope & Loggerhead Shrike from Sandy Hook on 5/6/08 on my flickr account. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14485831 AT N04/ Ray Duffy Secaucus, NJSubject: Birds and Butterflies at Silver Ridge 5-7 From: Shawn Wainwright <Shawneagleeyes1 AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 21:38:15 EDT Hi all here's what i saw today. At Silver Ridge in Toms River: 39 species RT Hawk - 1 Whip-poor-will - 2 RT Hummingbird - 2 Flicker - 1 GC Flycatcher - 1 Gray Catbird - 8 Mockingbird - 3 WB Nuthatch - 1 Carolina Wren - 1 Northern Parula - 3 Yellow Warbler - 1 Pine Warbler - 4 Black-and-white Warbler - 3 Ovenbird - 2 Common Yellowthroat - 6 Chipping Sparrow - 5 Field Sparrow - 2 Towhee - 3 BH Cowbird - 1 Butterflies seen: Juvenal's Duskywing - 1 - my 1st for the year American Lady - 1 Spring Azure - 1 Cabbage White - 4 Shawn Wainwright Toms River ShawnEagleEyes1 AT aol.com **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)Subject: Chester birds From: paul murray <pdm723 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 17:47:50 -0700 JBs,
Monday thru today,Wednesday 5/7in Chester has seen a nice influx of birds. 16
Warbler species + numerous Least Flycatchers, have been seen as well as Wood
Thrush and Veerys. The Black River WMA off Pleasant Hill Rd has had a calling
Am. Bittern all week as well as Sora. No Virginia Rail has been heard the past
week though.
Elizabeth Kay Environmental Center on Pottersville Rd, Chester has had a nice
number of Hooded Warblers singing on territory and the Lawrence's Hybrid
Warbler has returned. Paul Shanahan reported seeing it on 5/6 and I was also
able to locate it today. Being one of only a few locations in the state to see
this bird, it is usually easy enough to find. The best spot to see the bird is
on the road leading up to the office at Kay. Park in the lot at the top of the
hill then walk back down the drive until you arrive at the field on your
left(literally 100 yards from the parking area. The bird may be singing from
the few trees in this field or the hedge row to your right. It will be doing
the standard ascending Blue Winged buzz-bee call.
Good Birding and good luck to all World Series participants.
Paul
Chester NJ
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Subject: Extra-limital - Wood Sandpiper in DEFrom: Dave Magpiong <dayvm AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 19:31:40 -0400 Just passing along word in case anyone was interested in the details on Wood Sandpiper in Delaware. Hello, DE-BIRDers & others-- Congratulations to Sharon Lynn on her amazing find of a Wood Sandpiper at Broadkill Beach Impoundment in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, east of Milton, Delaware.?I've posted a photo set about it on flickr:? http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffgyr/sets/72157604940005597/ ?Click any photo to view it larger size. A couple of details about this bird.... Finding & observing it: It's hanging out on the near shore, quite close to the right (south) shoulder of Rt 16, about 0.3 miles beyond the "big bend" where the gated Island Farm Road continues straight. It's the second pulloff on the right, as you head east towards the bay. The distance to the spot is about a hair more than 3.3 miles from the intersection of Rt 1 & Rt 16. There is a small green and white "Important Bird Area" sign on the right that is just about a perfect marker for the spot, though it does range up and down the shore a few hundred feet, especially in the direction of the bay. There are only a few shorebirds in the area--some Leasts, a Lesser Yellowlegs, and the Wood Sandpiper. Here's a Google Map of the exact spot: ?http://snipurl.com/27rzk Backstory: It was found Monday, May 5 by Sharon Lynn, who knew it was odd, but couldn't quite decide what it was. Sharon forwarded me excellent photos which I received this morning, and which I admit I at first passed off as an odd yellowlegs, but on second viewing strongly suspected Wood Sandpiper. Liz & I immediately dashed out to Broadkill and were able to re-find and confirm the bird. Observing it: It is tolerant of people within limits. It will flush before you even leave the road if you pursue it, so please be very careful about your movements. I did not flush it, by the way, but several passing vehicles did at times, and it was obvious from the bird's behavior when I approached it that it would have flushed had I pressed it at all. Be very careful of traffic, both blocking it and getting hit by it. We all want this to be a positive event for everyone in the local community, both birders and non-birders. Things to watch for: Dumpy shape compared to Lesser Yellowlegs, with wings less projecting at rear. Capped appearance, with dark crown and prominent eyestripe. Dull straw legs. Two tone bill with greenish-straw base, thicker than Lesser Yellowlegs. High thin call, somewhat like Lesser Yellowlegs, but more like Solitary Sandpiper. Moves like Solitary Sandpiper; bounces when alert and on landing. White rump with strong black bands near end of tail. Gray wing linings. Documentation: Obviously, the more the better. But be aware that the bird has already been photographed, videotaped, and sound recorded, so there is not a *pressing* need to get close to it for more. The main priority is to make sure it stays as long as it cares to and is enjoyed safely by all those who come to see it.? It would be an excellent subject for digiscoping, though, which can be done at longer distances. Light is best in the afternoon. Good birding, Jeff Jeff Jeffrey Gordon Lewes, DE jeffgyr AT mac.com |